CANBERRA: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said migration levels will continue to decline over the coming years as his government responds to growing public concerns over housing affordability and economic pressures amid a surge in support for the far-right One Nation party.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Albanese said the rise of populist political movements is part of a broader global trend but stressed that maintaining social cohesion remains central to Australia’s national identity.
His comments came after a Newspoll published in The Australian newspaper showed One Nation attracting 31 percent support, narrowly ahead of the governing Labor Party at 30 percent. The survey of 1,240 respondents is the second major opinion poll to place the anti-migration party in a leading position.
One Nation has increasingly focused on migration as a key political issue, linking recent high levels of overseas arrivals to Australia’s ongoing housing shortage.
Government data shows net migration reached 538,000 in 2023, before falling to 429,000 in 2024 and 306,000 last year.
The Albanese government has argued that the unusually high figures were largely driven by a backlog of international students and workers entering the country after border restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic were lifted.
Acknowledging public frustration over housing costs and economic challenges, Albanese said the government was taking steps to bring migration levels down further.
“We will reduce the net overseas migration over the next couple of years down to 225,000. We think that is the right number,” he said in Canberra.
At the same time, the prime minister defended Australia’s multicultural character, describing immigration as a national strength.
“The fact that we have people who have come from all over the world, proud to call Australia home, is something that is a national asset for us,” Albanese said.
According to census data, nearly half of Australians have at least one parent born overseas, highlighting the country’s long history of immigration.
Australia’s population reached 28 million in June.
Despite the recent polling setback, Albanese’s Labor government continues to hold a majority in the House of Representatives. However, One Nation’s momentum has grown after the party secured its first lower-house seat in a by-election last month.
Australia’s next federal election is not scheduled until 2028, but migration and housing are expected to remain key political issues in the years ahead.
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